Pamela's Pages

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

How to Prepare for a Productive Scrapbook Retreat or Crop

It’s that time again! I’ve been preparing for my scrapbook retreat this weekend at The Covered Bridge Inn in Weatherford, Texas. I can not wait to go because I have finally learned the secret to preparing and being productive while I am there!

I have tried to grasp the concept of creating ‘power layouts’ for many years, with little success. That is until this past fall! So, I would like to share with you what worked wonders for myself and I hope that it will help you in preparing for your next retreat or crop.

I probably scrapbook a little different than most people do because I am usually teaching scrapbook classes that are already prepared for me by Close To My Heart. All I have to do is select the photos that I’d like to use on the layouts that I create with the particular kit I am using for the month.

So, I’ve said for several years now, that I “scrapbook backwards” because I create my scrapbook layouts first, and then go back and select the photos I want to use. I can print them out any size I need and even change them to black & white or sepia…whatever works best for the layout I have made.

Anyway, this past fall, I finally decided to try putting some power layouts together for my upcoming retreat and once I figured it out…I couldn’t stop myself! Here are the steps that worked for me…

1. I gathered several of my extra Close To My Heart Idea Books and flipped through the pages of each one and tore out or cut out the scrapbook layout ideas that I wanted to recreate. I also looked through my computer files for ideas that I have saved that I wanted to recreate as well and printed those out.

2. Since every layout I create is a Close To My Heart Scrapbook Program Concept, I just need to determine what scrapbook layout concept it is that I need to locate in one of the three Scrapbook Programs by Jeanette Lynton. I can usually find the name of the concept right underneath the photo of the layout if I’m using an idea straight from an idea book. Otherwise, I check out the quick reference pages in each Scrapbook Program for the concept.

Look closely at the below photo. You can see that the idea I pulled from an old idea book matches up with the concept I found in the Imagine Scrapbook Program.

From the above pages, I can use the cutting diagrams to cut my paper so that it is all prepared for me when I sit down to scrapbook. I also gathering all the accessories I want to use and include those in a mini ziplock bag, if they fit.

Thanks for sharing your great idea! I'm attending my first crop retreat weekend in March and this will be awesome for me to get a lot done! This retreat will tie me over until Convention in July!! Can hardly wait!!

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Hello and welcome to my blog! I am a woman of God who is striving to find harmony in all areas of my life. I have been married to my wonderful husband, Mike, for 22 years and we have three beautiful children {a son, 18, and two daughters, 15 & 5}. I am an Independent Consultant with Close To My Heart going on 15 years and still loving it! I love to share with others everything that I learn & love to do! I hope you will join me on this adventure that God is leading me on. Thank you for stopping by and may God bless you today!

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